Active Shooter and Hostage Situations

The U.T.C. Police Department trains consistently for Critical Incidents and other
Emergency Situations. We feel that equipping you with this information is vital, should
an incident ever occur.

This document provides guidance to faculty, staff, students and visitor who may be
caught in an active shooting or a hostage situation—the police response to these situations
is different.

An “active shooter” is a person or persons who appear to be actively killing or attempting
to kill people in a single location. These situations have happened in schools, shopping
malls, businesses, streets and other public venues. These situations are dynamic in
nature and require immediate action by law enforcement personnel to stop the shooter.

A hostage situation is one in which a person(s) takes control over another person(s),
is demanding some type of action and not allowing the person(s) being held to leave.
The hostage taker is not actively killing or injuring people. The hostage taker is
holding people against their will. Police will respond and attempt to communicate
with the hostage taker(s).

Some Guidelines for Responding to Active Shooter

How one responds at an active shooter situation will be determined by the specific
circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter
situation, try to remain calm and use the following guidelines as a strategy for survival.

If an active shooter is outside your building: • Proceed to a room that can be locked or barricaded • Lock all doors and windows, turn out the lights and stay away from and lower than
the windows. Barricade the door if you can not lock it. • Dial 9-1-1 and advise the dispatcher of what is taking place and your location.
Remain on the line to give the dispatcher any further information that may be needed • Remain in the room until the police or a campus administrator gives the “all clear.”
Be sure it is the police or a campus administrator who is giving the “all clear” and
not the shooter attempting to gain entry into the room

If an active shooter is inside the building with you: • If the room can be locked, lock it and stay away from the door • If the room cannot be locked, determine if there is a nearby room that you could
safely get to that can be locked. Consider barricading the door if you can not lock
it. • Follow the procedures listed above under “If an active shooter is outside your
building”

If an active shooter enters your office or classroom: • Dial 9-1-1 on your office phone or cell phone if possible • If it is possible to talk, give shooter’s location and description • If it is not safe to speak, just leave the line open so the dispatcher can hear
what is taking place • If possible, attempt to negotiate with the shooter • Attempting to overpower the shooter with force should be considered as the last
resort after all other options have been exhausted • If the shooter leaves the area, attempt to lock the door or barricade the door
or proceed to a safe location

If you are able to and decide to flee an active shooting situation: • Have a route of escape in mind • Leave everything behind except your cell phone (do not worry about purses or book
bags – those will only slow you down. • Keep your hands visible and follow the instructions of the police. You must remember,
the police may not have an accurate description of the shooter(s), so for everyone’s
safety, you may be detained by the police • Do not stop to assist wounded victims or attempt to move them. Do tell the police
where these victims are located

What you should expect from responding law enforcement to an active shooter: • Police are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to the sound of the gunfire • Their purpose is to stop the shooter(s) • Officers may be in plainclothes, patrol uniforms or SWAT Uniforms armed with long
rifles, shotguns and handguns • Do as the officers direct you and keep your hands visible at all times • If possible, tell the officers where the shooter(s) was last seen and a description
of the shooter(s) • Also be aware that the first responding police officers will not stop to assist
injured people. Others will follow to treat the injured. First responding officers
are trained to proceed as quickly as possible to the gunfire and to stop the shooter(s).

Keep in mind that once you are in a safe location, the entire scene is a crime scene.
The police usually will not let anyone leave until the situation is completely under
control. Police may ask for your statement of what you heard and observed. Please
cooperate with the police.

Some Guidelines for Responding to a Hostage Situation

How one responds in a hostage situation will be determined by the specific circumstances
of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in such a situation, try to remain
calm. It is generally recommended that you follow directions of the hostage taker The police response to this situation is different than an active shooter. The police
will not proceed immediately into the situation but will surround the area and attempt
to set up negotiations with the hostage taker. A hostage situation could last for
hours or days. The ultimate goal is for the hostage taker to release all hostages
and peacefully surrender to the police.

If the hostage taker begins to kill or injure people or if the negotiators believe
the hostage taker is about to start killing or injuring people, police will respond
as they do to an active shooter situation. The police will likely respond immediately
to stop the shooter.